Recently, it was announced that Malik Beasley is no longer under a federal gambling investigation. According to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, the Minnesota Timberwolves, among other teams, have "touched base" with Beasley.
Update: The Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves have recently touched base on Malik Beasley, along with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, sources told @hoopshype. It’s worth noting Cavs guard Max Strus expects to miss 3-4 months after Jones fracture foot surgery https://t.co/IRtjgG5oIb
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 26, 2025
The Wolves' interest in Beasley somewhat adds up. He spent two and a half seasons with the Wolves from 2020 to 2022. Beasley averaged 15.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists during his tenure with the Wolves. Last season with the Detroit Pistons, Beasley averaged 16.3 points and finished second in the league in total made 3-pointers en route to finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Getting one of the best 3-point shooters on a cheap deal could be enticing for many teams around the league, especially for a Wolves team that hasn't made any significant roster upgrades this offseason.
However, signing Beasley would be a mistake for multiple reasons and something Minnesota should avoid. Let's explore why bringing Beasley into the fold would be a bad move for the Wolves.
Beasley doesn't fit the Wolves' roster needs
The first reason why I would avoid signing Beasley is that his skill set overlaps with Donte DiVincenzo's. Both are microwave scorers and knockdown shooters who are best utilized in an off-ball role. Despite their scoring prowess, neither player is that impactful as a playmaker. If the Wolves are looking to upgrade their roster, they should look to get another playmaker. Overall, it's hard to see Beasley and DiVincenzo fitting together off the Timberwolves bench.
Now, the Wolves' interest in Beasley could hint that DiVincenzo's toe injury is more serious than originally believed. In this case, the Wolves' signing Beasley could be more logical. Still, it's unlikely that DiVincenzo's injury would jeopardize his status past the early portion of the season. As a result, signing Beasley wouldn't make a ton of sense.
Beasley would disrupt the Wolves' young talent
The other main reason why the Wolves should avoid signing Beasley is their impressive young talent. With Nickeil Alexander-Walker leaving, the Wolves opted not to make any move, signaling a clear belief in Terrence Shannon Jr., Rob Dillingham, and Jaylen Clark. While none of these players got a ton of minutes as rookies, they all have the talent and skill sets to be contributors off the Wolves' bench this season.
The Wolves need to see what they have with these young players, and signing Beasley would take away opportunities for this young trio. Sure, this might result in some extra wins for the Wolves. However, this isn't even guaranteed, considering how he doesn't mesh with DiVincenzo or fill a clear need for the Wolves. Additionally, it would be consequential for the Wolves' future. Considering both Beasley's fit on the team and how his presence would impact the young players, signing him wouldn't make sense.
Frankly, given the Wolves' approach to the offseason, I find it hard to believe that they would end up signing Beasley.
With the Wolves' young talent, they have a loaded rotation and thus are likely looking for a depth piece to round out the roster. This explains their interest in Bones Hyland. The Wolves have been linked to Malcolm Brogdon throughout the summer. However, they haven't signed him likely due to their belief in their young talent. As a result, signing a player who doesn't fit the Wolves team needs as well, but would still disrupt their young talent, would be a mistake.